Jakrta: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Indonesia will open to the public before this year's Ramadan, a representative of the religious ministry announced on Monday. The government is counting on the new mosque to draw tourists and establish itself as a hub for moderate Islam.
The mosque in Solo, Central Java, is a scaled-down version of the well-known Abu Dhabi landmark named after the late president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. It was presented by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who also joined Indonesian President Joko Widodo to officially open it in November.
The mosque is currently in its final stages of construction prior to a public opening, according to Akmal Salim Ruhana, who oversees the sub-directorate at the Ministry of Religious Affairs responsible for mosque affairs.
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Because we have already planned a number of events for the holy month, we must open before Ramadan, Ruhana told Arab News.
According to Ruhana, the mosque served as a symbol of the close ties between Indonesia and the UAE and will be run by representatives from both nations. Both governments also have plans to build an Islamic centre in the same city soon.
In addition to the closeness and friendliness of the two presidents, he said, "This is an expression of the good relations between the two countries, Indonesia-UAE diplomatic relations."
The potential for religious tourism attracted by the mosque also gives officials hope.
Heny Ermawati, a representative of the Surakarta City Government, another name for Solo, told Arab News that the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in that city has the potential to serve as a learning facility for a new generation of Muslims who are more moderate. "The aesthetic appeal of this building may draw visitors from far and wide."
According to Ermawati, the Indonesian government had sent architects to detail the large mosque in Abu Dhabi, and the Solo structure is about one-fifth the size of the original.
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She added that the mosque, which has a capacity of 14,000 people, features regionally specific design elements like the use of batik patterns on the carpeting and flooring. Batik is a traditional Indonesian art form that involves painting fabrics with wax-resistant dye.
Although it is not yet open to the public, the mosque has already generated excitement in Solo and across the nation, drawing throngs of locals and tourists who want to see it and take pictures.
Despite not yet being in use, the mosque is already having a significant positive impact on the community. Teuku Rezasyah, a specialist in international relations from Padjadjaran University in West Java, told Arab News that it was a new symbol for Solo.
According to Rezasyah, the mosque can support neighbourhood initiatives such as teachings on moderate Islam, youth and women's empowerment, and other initiatives.
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The ability of this mosque to educate the populace of Indonesia about the significance of future relations between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, which are advantageous to both nations, is said to be its essence.